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SURPRISE, Ariz. – For the first time in program history, the second-ranked Columbus State University men's tennis team will play for a national championship after downing No. 13 Azusa Pacific 5-1 in the semifinals on Friday.
Columbus State (27-3) was making its fourth national semifinal appearance, but came out victorious for the first time.
Saturday's national championship will be a matchup of the top two teams in the country, as the Cougars will take on top-ranked Barry. The two teams met back on March 3 in Valdosta, Ga., with Barry coming away with a 5-3 win.
The Cougars will be the first CSU team to play for a national title since the Columbus State women's soccer team did so in 2015.
"These guys have been outstanding all season," head coach Evan Isaacs said. "They have worked so hard to get to this point, and now we are one win away from achieving the ultimate goal."
The Cougars got the day started off on the right foot with a pair of doubles victories.
KP Pannu and Matei Avram rolled to an 8-4 win at second doubles to put the first point on the board. Jorge Vargas and Arnold Kokulewski quickly made it 2-0 with an 8-5 tally at third.
Azusa Pacific (28-3) needed a tiebreak to earn its lone win of the day, taking first doubles 9-8.
Columbus State rolled out of the gates in singles, winning the opening set in five of the six matches.
Alvaro Regalado put the first singles point up with a 6-2, 6-3 win at third. Vargas then turned in a 6-4, 7-6 victory at sixth to get the Cougars within one point of advancing.
Zach Whaanga provided the clinching point, taking second singles 6-4, 6-4 to send CSU to the championship match.
Paul Sprengelmeijer was up a set when Play was stopped, while Pannu was in the third set in a match featuring two of the top three-ranked players in the country.
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